Hydrangea plant named ‘H220913’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘H220913’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; large mophead-type inflorescences with numerous purplish red-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘H220913’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘H220914’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Applicant: Hydrangea Breeders Association B.V.

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/240,936

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Hydrangea BreedersAssociation B.V. of De Kwakel, The Netherlands on Jan. 4, 2021,application number 2021/0009. Foreign priority is not claimed to thisapplication.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla,commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘H220913’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden and Lengerich, Germany. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new strong andfreely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, uniformflowering habit, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterileflowers, attractive sterile flower color and good postproductionlongevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination in April,2014 in Dresden, Germany, of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Tabletensia’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofHydrangea macrophylla as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangeaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Lengerich, Germany in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Lengerich, Germany since July,2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘H220913’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘H220913’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.    -   5. Large mophead-type inflorescences with numerous purplish        red-colored sterile flowers.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Tabletensia’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of ‘Tabletensia’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Tabletensia’.    -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker        purplish red in color than sterile flowers of plants of        ‘Tabletensia’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea are less susceptible to Botrytis        cinerea than plants of ‘Tabletensia’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘H220914’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent applicationfiled concurrently. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of ‘H220914’ in sterile flower color as plants of the newHydrangea have purplish red-colored sterile flowers whereas plants of‘H220914’ have purplish pink-colored sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘200749077’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,441. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘200749077’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea more compact than plants of        ‘200749077’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than        plants of ‘200749077’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have slightly smaller leaves than        plants of ‘200749077’.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have more sterile flowers per        inflorescence than plants of ‘200749077’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘H220913’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘H220913’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘H220913’ that has been “blued”, that is,treated with aluminum sulfate.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the spring and early summer in 13-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lengerich, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C.Plants of the new Hydrangea were one year old when the photographs anddescription were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea can be successfullytreated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H220913’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea macrophylla            ‘Tabletensia’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            uniformly mounded plant habit; strong and sturdy stems;            rapid growth rate and vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 40 cm to 45 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about            twelve lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Length.—About 18 cm to 23 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—When developing: Close to 146C; at internodes, close            to 187A; lenticels, close to 187A. Developed: Close to 146C;            at the internodes, close to 187A; when woody, close to 177D;            lenticels, close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to rippled, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to NN137B; venation, close to 146C. Developing and            fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B;            venation, close to 146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 145B. Color, lower surface: Close to            145C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small            inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type            terminal panicles; panicles globular in shape; rounded            fertile and sterile flowers face upright to outwardly            depending on their position in the inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally in the            early summer and is continuous throughout the summer in            Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Fertile and sterile flowers last about            three months on the plant, fertile and sterile flowers            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 30            fertile flowers per panicle and about 60 to 80 sterile            flowers per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 2 mm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 70D; color does            not change with development.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N66B; color does            not change with development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Deltoid. Apex: Retuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire,            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 145B; color does not change with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Width: About            2 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Retuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire, undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 63B; color does not change with development; when            “blued”, color becoming closer to 96D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from stem            axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 63D.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45°            from stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            63C.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:            Close to 75C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape:            Conical. Anther color: Close to 63D. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils: Pistil            quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 62D. Style            length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Style color: Close to 62D. Ovary            color: Close to 62D.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament            color: Close to 75C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Conical. Anther color: Close to 63D. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155D. Pistils: Pistil            quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 62D. Style            length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Style color: Close to 62D. Ovary            color: Close to 62D.        -   Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per            fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: About 1 mm.            Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Color: Close to 200C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,    plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant    to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°    C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘H220913’ asillustrated and described.